The inspection took place on 29 November 2016, and the visit was unannounced. Stoneygate Oaklands provides accommodation and personal care for 44 people who have specific mental health needs. There were 41 people living in the home at the time of the inspection.
Stoneygate Oaklands had a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
At the last inspection of the service in 25 November 2013 we asked the provider to make improvements where people’s medicines were administered. We received an action plan from the provider which outlined the action they were going to take. This advised us of their plan to be compliant by January 2014. At this inspection we found that improvements had been made in the management of medicines including the administration of medicines and any excess medicines disposed of safely.
At the last inspection of the service in 25 November 2013 we asked the provider to make improvements to demonstrate they acted in accordance with people’s wishes, and to ensure where people lacked capacity, that support was in place to assist them to make informed choices about their care or support. At this inspection we found that staff worked within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and had a good understanding of their responsibilities in making sure people were supported in accordance with their preferences and wishes.
At the last inspection of the service in 25 November 2013 we asked the provider to make improvements to the choices of food people were offered and to ensure people were offered a nutritious diet. At this inspection we found that improvements had been made and people were regularly consulted about what the menu choices should include.
Staff felt there were enough staff to keep people safe and ensure people could go out when they wanted to. Staff worked as a team to ensure people received the appropriate level of support to keep them and others safe. The provider had recruitment procedures that ensured staff were of a suitable character to work with people at the home. Staff training was provided in areas considered essential for meeting people’s needs safely and effectively.
Some windows in the home required adjustments to ensure peoples’ safety. Tests to ensure that the environment was safe were undertaken regularly, and there was a business continuity plan to ensure the effective running of the service in an emergency. Risk assessments and management plans covered all aspects of people’s needs and included safety when outside the home, travel, finances, health and daily routines.
New staff received an induction which included working alongside more experienced staff. This helped them get to know people’s needs and establish a relationship with them before support them on a one to one basis. Staff had been provided with safeguarding training and the registered manager understood their responsibilities to manage any safeguarding concerns raised by staff.
Staff knew people's individual communication skills and abilities and showed concern for people's wellbeing in a caring and meaningful way. Staff were observant of people and responded to their needs quickly.
Care plans and support records were personalised and each file contained information about the person's likes, dislikes, preferences and the people who were important to them. Care plans also included information that enabled the staff to monitor the well-being of people. There were systems in place for staff to share information through detailed daily records for each person.
Audits and checks of the service were carried out by the management team and the provider. These checks ensured the service had continuously improved. The provider ensured all notifications required by law had been sent to us in accordance with the legislation.